1st Advantage MortgageIn Wolfe County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $30,417 a year and the typical rent is $501. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Wolfe County
- Wolfe County housing compared with Kentucky
- How much Wolfe County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Wolfe County
- The communities that make up Wolfe County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Wolfe County
- Wolfe County households compared
- Before borrowing in Wolfe County
- A Wolfe County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Wolfe County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wolfe County
With an estimated 6,443 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wolfe County ranks 113th of 120 in Kentucky for population. It covers 222 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Campton, with about 272 residents, or 4% of the county. Because Wolfe County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Wolfe County housing compared with Kentucky
Renters in Wolfe County pay a median of $501 a month, 48% below the Kentucky figure of $967. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $75,800, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes.
| Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $501/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $75,800 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Wolfe County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much Wolfe County households make
The median household income in Wolfe County is $30,417; statewide it is $63,726, so Wolfe County runs 52% below Kentucky as a whole.
| Household income | Wolfe County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 52.2% | +24.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 5.1% | -17.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.0% | -7.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 5% of Wolfe County households make $100,000 or more, and 52% make less than $35,000. Census counts 37.7% of Wolfe County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.418 here. None of these numbers decides a Wolfe County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Wolfe County
The biggest employer of Wolfe County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 13.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 32% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 10.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Wolfe County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.8% | +4.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Wolfe County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Wolfe County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 305 people, so roughly 95% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campton | city | 272 | $24,583 | $548 | 3 mi |
| Hazel Green | CDP | 33 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wolfe County's, from 14 to 23 miles away. Income ranges from $33,080 in Magoffin County to $47,913 in Morgan County; all six of these neighbors top Wolfe County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfe County | - | $30,417 | $501/mo | 74% |
| Menifee County, KY | 14 mi | $45,096 | $675/mo | 75% |
| Lee County, KY | 15 mi | $37,568 | $603/mo | 78% |
| Morgan County, KY | 18 mi | $47,913 | $663/mo | 79% |
| Breathitt County, KY | 18 mi | $34,808 | $548/mo | 77% |
| Powell County, KY | 19 mi | $40,309 | $747/mo | 68% |
| Magoffin County, KY | 23 mi | $33,080 | $730/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Wolfe County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wolfe County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $2,535 gross per month ($30,417 / 12)
- Less median rent of $501, which is 20% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $412 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wolfe County's.
Wolfe County households compared
College graduates make up 9% of the adult population. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Wolfe County | All of Kentucky | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 8.7% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 29.9% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.3% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 37.7% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 13.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.8% |
| 60+ min | 16.6% |
Before borrowing in Wolfe County
Where the Wolfe County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Wolfe County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 32% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 38% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 59% of Wolfe County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Wolfe County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Wolfe County residents:
- Price the Wolfe County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Wolfe County
Wolfe County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wolfe County?
$30,417 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 119th of 120 in the state.
Is Wolfe County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $501 against $967 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Wolfe County?
By population: Campton, Hazel Green. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Will a Wolfe County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kentucky as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Wolfe County residents?
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Kentucky; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.